gerlach en koop – choses tuées

Let’s provide an example. A mother buys her child two T-shirts. The child puts on one of the shirts and steps forward smiling, whereupon the mother says: ‘Don’t you like the other one?’
The child is taken aback.
A dilemma like this is called a Double Bind. And what a dilemma it is! Practically insoluble.
However, the child straightens itself out and puts on the other T-shirt as well, over the first one, but realises immediately the deadendedness of this solution because it also shows a preference. Not in the wearing admittedly, but still in the showing. Because which T-shirt goes on top?
Disillusioned the child shambles off, to return shortly with the second T-shirt pulled over the first, but inside out this time. Now the front sides of both shirts, that normally carry texts or images, face each other, invisible to us.
1. Did the child redeem itself?
2. Or is this a new piece by gerlach en koop?
3. If so, can it be fabricated?
4. If so, can it be shown?
Or is there no reason?

The collective artist gerlach en koop renders things visible by repetition, copying or reuse, by displacement and misplacement, by omissions, erring and making mistakes. The smaller the distance between two identical things—differences that sometimes can only be conceived of—the more interesting.
What are they? Objects, made or ready-made, sculptural or graphic; architectural interventions; words in a particular order; a modest gesture. Sometimes uncommonly blunt and sometimes unexpectedly sophisticated. Always in earnest.

Choses tuées is the first institutional solo exhibition by gerlach en koop in The Netherlands. On view are works, specially made for the exhibition, and in part site-specific. In fact this applies to the older works as well, since these are often based on instructions and have always to be executed anew. Following de Appel the exhibition will travel to Temporary Gallery in Cologne where the works will be cast in an entirely contrasting architectural and social context. The curator of the exhibition is Lorenzo Benedetti, director of de Appel arts centre.

To accompany the exhibition, the first monographic publication on the work of gerlach en koop will be produced in several parts. Roma Publications will publish Choses tuées, Louis Lüthi will be responsible for the graphic design, Kristien Daem for the photography and it will contain written contributions by Nickel van Duijvenboden, Maxine Kopsa and Raimundas Malašauskas.

Public programme

Regular guided tour
Sunday 13 September 3 – 4 pm

Reading performance Nickel van Duijvenboden
Sunday 11 October 11 am - 1 pm

Book presentation Choses tuées by gerlach en koop, with a reading by Raimundas Malašauskas
Saturday 31 October 3 – 5 pm

Thanks to: Mondriaan Fonds

ART-ViSiT
During the exhibition Choses tuées ART-ViSiT, the educational programme for elementary and high school students, offers a special programme of guided tours and workshops. More information

For press information please contact marketing [​at​] deappel.nl